The Arizona Cardinals take on the New Orleans Saints in the 2010 NFC Divisional Playoffs on Saturday. The Cardinals are coming into New Orleans off an exciting 51-45 Wild Card overtime win against the Green Bay Packers. The NFC South Champions New Orleans Saints are coming off a bye week. They clinched the NFC South Division and the bye, going 13-0 before losing their last three regular season games.

The Saints are favored by 7 points in this Divisional playoff game. The under/over is an astounding 57 points. Here is a preview of the NFC Divisional Playoffs between the Cardinals and the Saints:

In last week’s Wild Card game, the Cardinals were without star WR Anquan Boldin. But his replacement Early Doucet and WR standout Larry Fitzgerald caught 2 TDs apiece to pick up the slack. Boldin is expected to place on Saturday.

QB Kurt Warner had a big day against the Packers, throwing for 379 yards, 5 TDs and only 4 incompletions. The Cardinals needed all of that plus an interception return just to play in this NFC Divisional Championship game.

The New Orleans Saints cruised in their last three games of the regular season after going 13-0. Saints QB Drew Brees had a great year throwing for 34 TDs and only 11 INTs.

As a team the Saints are ranked 1st in total offense, 4th in passing and 6th in rushing. The Cardinals are 15th in total offense 12th in passing and 28th in rushing.

Defensively both teams are in the lower ranks. The Saints are ranked 25 in total defense, 26th against the pass and 21st against the rush. The Cardinals are 20th overall defensively, 23rd against the pass and 17th against the run.

The Cardinals offense averages 344 total yards, 251 yards passing and 93 yards rushing
The NO Saints defense averages 357 total yards allowed, 235 yard passing and 122 yards rushing

The NO Saints offense averaged 403 total yards, 272 yards passing and 131 yards rushing
The Cardinals defense averages 346 total yards allowed, 233 yard passing and 112 yards rushing

The New Orleans Saints have the edge in this NFC Divisional Playoff because they are rested, healthy and playing at home. The Cardinals on the other hand come off an emotional game that went into overtime. They have some nagging injuries and their defense has given up more than 500 yards on two occasions this year.

Expect a high scoring affair with the Saints coming out on top.

Thenflthisweek.com Prediction:

Saints 38 Cardinals 28

sources: espn.com, nfl.com, usatoday.com

The NFC wildcard Sunday game will be played in the desert between the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals and NFC wild card Green Bay Packers. The winner of this game gets to play next week in round two of the NFC playoffs. Based on our analysis, the Arizona Cardinals will win the game that will be decided by a field goal in the final two minutes. Lets size up the two teams. The betting line on the game is a Pickem. Over/under is 47 points.

The Green Bay Packers are lead by QB Aaron Rodgers. He has proven that he is a top-tier quarterback. He also has a deep, talented group of receivers. Expect the Pack to throw the football, especially in the area covered by Arizona CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who is nursing a knee injury.

The Cardinals counter with a great passing attack of their own. QB Kurt Warner to WR Larry Fitzgerald made sweet music together in 2008 but not as sweet in 2009. WR Anquan Boldin will be at less than 100% with ankle and knee injuries.

The running attack of the both the Packers and Cardinals are average at best but the Packers get the slight edge, especially if Rodgers is successful through the air - it will make their running game that much more effective.

This matchup is the hardest of the 4 NFL wildcard games to predict. But based on the experience of Cardinals QB Kurt Warner, them playing at home and their post-season experience in 2008 (making it all the way to the Superbowl) - we give the edge to the Cardinals.

Thenflthisweek.com prediction:

Cardinals 25 Packers 21

The 2010 NFL Playoff schedule kicks off this Saturday with what is better known as Wild Card Weekend. Interestingly enough, three of four games are rematches of the final week of the NFL season. The Jets do it again against the Bengals, Eagles repeat against the Cowboys and the Packers mix it up again with the Cardinals. Here is the 201 NFL playoff schedule for Wild Card Weekend.

The New York Jets (9-7) will visit Ohio to take on the AFC North division champion Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) in the first of 4 NFL playoff games this weekend; kickoff is 4:30 pm ET.
The Jets truly earned their spot into the Wild Card Weekend, beating the undefeated Indianapolis Colts on week 15 and then demolishing the Bengals in the last week of the NFL regular season 37-0. Don’t expect the Jets to beat the Bengals by the same score, but it sure does look like they are just hitting their stride.
Thenflthisweek.com prediction: Jets 28 Bengals 7

On Saturday evening, the Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) head to Texas to take on the NFC East Division Champion Dallas Cowboys (11-5) at 8:00 pm ET. The Eagles are also looking for revenge of their final regular season game loss to the Cowboys 24-7. That loss gave the Cowboys the NFC East title and homefield advantage for the Wild Card Weekend matchup. Cowboys also look like they are clicking on all cylinders.
Thenflthisweek.com prediction: Cowboys 31 Eagles 14

On Sunday, Wild Card Weekend continues with the other AFC wildcard winner, Baltimore Ravens (9-7), traveling to play the AFC East champion New England Patriots (10-6) in a 1:00 pm ET start. In week 16 of the NFL season the Ravens clinched the wildcard spot with a win over the Oakland Raiders 21-13 while the Patriots lost to the Houston Texans 34-27.
Ravens had a tough time beating the lowly Raiders while the Patriots seemed to be in “rest” mode against the Texans.
Thenflthisweek.com prediction: Patriots 21 Ravens 17

And finally, game 4 of the Wild Card Weekend is the Green Bay Packers (11-5) heading to the desert to play the AFC West champion Arizona Cardinals (10-6) at 4:00 EST. In week 16 action, the Packers beat the Cards 33-7. Again, don’t expect to see the same result.
Tough call here - but playing home in the desert definitely gives the Cards a sizable advantage.
Thenflthisweek.com prediction: Cardinals 24 Packers 21

The 2010 NFL Playoff Schedule has NFC first-round byes to the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings while the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers enjoy an AFC first-round bye.